Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-08-19

/ Knows more about explosives IMAM any
man living, and | have no doubt that he
has succeeded i'll inventing a very destruc-
| tive affair. If he has swallowed it
think that he has just cause for his
alarm"
The post surgeon said that he did not
like to speak positively about such pecu-
| liar case, but he did not mind saying that
| the situation was neither dangerous nor
| critical. With little prudence the pa
! tent would be able to be up and about as
! usual in a few hours, or by the next day
at farthest.
~ think" volunteered Capt. Jones,
''that his mind is out of gear. That
| would explain the whole business"
"And Think said a lieutenant, THAT
| he is drunk
These views, however, did not meet
with much favor, and the kind hearted
| warriors sat down to breakfast with
thoughtful faces.
just as there was lull in the CONVEX
sation there was q deafening, stunning
crash, louder than the Earring roll of a
dozen thunderclaps. The building shook
and rocked. The dishes danced on the
table, and the furniture clattered about
the room.
NY 0Oo! ulO hlctJOl Iieto P1OtaOsA'
AS the colonel said this his face was as
white as q sheet.
A wild rush was made for the door,
and once there the spectators saw the
| realization of their worst fears.
In the dense column Of smoke, shooting
up from the spot where the majors cabin
had stood, could be seen countless hag-
ments of the wreck whirling round and
round in the air. Pretty soon they began
to descend in a shower, covering the
parade ground with pieces of shingles,
plank and logs, while numerous particles
spattered down the river 100 yards away.
When the bewildered party reached the
scene of the disaster there was little salts
faction to be obtained. A smoking hole
in the ground and the scattered debris of
the cabin were all that could be seen.
There was no trace of the major.
Had the daring inventor exploded?
The officers looked at each other with
awe struck countenances.
'ENo, I cannot think 500 said the post
surgeon, reading the question in the in
curing faces before him Spontaneous
combustion is possible. Such cases have
been recorded, but if the major really
exploded it is phenomenal event with
out precedent. The poor fellow took
too much brandy and went to work with
his chemicals after we left him. That is
my theory"
''Do you regard it as IMPOSSIBLE"
asked the colonel.
''By no means, but it is highly improb-
able"
"Then,' said the colonel, firmly, 81 be-
1ieve that the major exploded"
"And that is my opinion" chimed in
several others.
Notwithstanding the most careful
search, nothing belonging to the missing
man, not even a button, could be found
The river had doubtless swallowed up
everything.
The explosion Of the major did not
figure in the next report made to the sec
rotary of war by the commander of the
little Oregon post.
At the very last moment the colonel
tore up his first report, and submitted a
briefer document in which he stated that
Maj. Potter had come to an untimely
death while experimenting with ex-
plosives.
But the truth of history cannot be sup
pressed What the war department failed
to get will soon be known far and wide.-
Wallace P. Reed in Atlanta Constitution